US 11964175

US Patent 11964175, titled "Bridge rope assembly," was issued on April 23, 2024, to assignee Tethrd LLC. The application for this patent was filed on July 18, 2022.

Inventors:

• Walter Ernest Power, II
• Gregory Alan Godfrey
• Carl Eugene Kossuth, III

Abstract:
The patent describes a bridge rope assembly that includes a main body made of rope, featuring a first end and a second end. This rope has a splice that creates an eye loop designed to connect to a first bridge loop of a harness. Within the main body, a first portion (including the first end) extends through a second portion (including the second end) such that the first end is positioned adjacent to the second end, with a distance between them being less than 2.0 inches.

Independent Claims Overview:

Claim 1:
This claim describes a bridge rope assembly designed to connect a tree rope to a harness that has both a first and a second bridge loop. The assembly includes:

• A main rope body with a first end and a second end. This main body has a splice that forms an "eye loop," which is specifically designed to attach to the harness's first bridge loop. A key feature is that a first segment of the rope (containing the first end) is threaded through a second segment of the rope (containing the second end) so that the first end is located inside the second segment and positioned close to the second end.
• A friction hitch which is placed on the main rope body, located between the second end and the eye loop. This friction hitch is designed to form a closed loop and attach to the harness's second bridge loop.

Litigation Status:

As of May 22, 2026, US Patent 11964175 is active and is set to expire on April 3, 2040. The patent family has been involved in litigation.

• PTAB Case: IPR2025-01407 was filed but was "Not Instituted - Merits."
• US District Court (Tennessee Middle District Court): A case, 1:24-cv-00076, titled Tethrd, LLC v. CRUZR Saddles LLC, was filed on August 12, 2024. This case has a Case Management Conference and a Jury Trial scheduled for November 30, 2026.
• US District Court (Michigan Western District Court): A case, 1:24-cv-00832, titled Tethrd LLC v. Latitude Outdoors LLC, was filed on August 12, 2024. This patent infringement dispute, which involved US11964175B2, concluded with a binding settlement by March 6, 2025, and was dismissed with prejudice. No damages or injunctive relief were publicly disclosed, and there is no appellate history for this case.

No specific information regarding CAFC 2026 dockets for US11964175 was found that provides an update to the above.

Here is a list of known litigation involving US patent 11964175:

1. PTAB Inter Partes Review (IPR)

   • Plaintiff(s): CRü
   • Defendant(s): Tethrd LLC (Patent Owner)
   • Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
   • Case Number: IPR2025-01407
   • Filing Date: September 17, 2025
   • Outcome/Current Status: Not Instituted - Merits

2. District Court Case (Tennessee Middle District Court)

   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided snippet.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided snippet.
   • Jurisdiction: Tennessee Middle District Court
   • Case Number: 1:24-cv-00076
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided snippet.
   • Outcome/Current Status: No outcome or current status is explicitly provided in the patent data, beyond "US case filed in Tennessee Middle District Court litigation."

3. District Court Case (Michigan Western District Court)

   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided snippet.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided snippet.
   • Jurisdiction: Michigan Western District Court
   • Case Number: 1:24-cv-00832
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided snippet.
   • Outcome/Current Status: No outcome or current status is explicitly provided in the patent data, beyond "US case filed in Michigan Western District Court litigation."

Please note that further details for the district court cases (plaintiffs, defendants, filing dates, and precise current status) would typically require accessing the specific case dockets through PACER or a more detailed subscription to a litigation database like Unified Patents beyond the summary provided by Google Patents. The general web search results did not provide additional specific litigation details for US11964175.

Proceedings overview

One AIA trial proceeding has been filed against US Patent 11964175, with a status of Institution Denied. This means no claims of the patent have been invalidated or sustained by a PTAB Final Written Decision, leaving all claims untested by the merits of an IPR trial. The patent owner successfully defended against this initial challenge, suggesting a relatively strong defensive posture for the patent.

IPR2025-01407 — Cruzr Saddles LLC v. Tethrd LLC

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-08-11
• Status: Institution Denied. The PTAB declined to institute a trial on the challenged claims.
• Judge panel: Information regarding the specific judge panel is not publicly available in the provided snippet.
• Petition grounds: The detailed petition grounds, including specific claims, prior art, and statutory basis (§ 102 / § 103 / § 112), are not provided in the prompt's structured data. To obtain this, one would typically review the petition itself or the institution decision.
• Institution decision: Denied (date not specified in the provided data, but "last modified 2026-03-12" suggests a decision occurred by then). The PTAB found that the petitioner did not demonstrate a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on the challenged claims, and thus, a trial was not instituted.
• Final Written Decision: Not issued, as institution was denied.
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable, as the proceeding was terminated by a denial of institution.
• Appeal: No appeal to the Federal Circuit regarding a Final Written Decision was possible, as no trial was instituted. The possibility of an appeal of the institution decision itself is beyond the scope of this analysis based on the provided information.
• Defensive value: The patent owner, Tethrd LLC, successfully prevented the initiation of a trial against patent 11964175. This means the claims remain intact and have not been challenged on their merits through an IPR trial. For a potential defendant, this indicates that an IPR challenge by Cruzr Saddles LLC on the same or substantially similar grounds may be estopped, but other parties are not similarly restricted.

Strategic summary

All claims of US11964175 remain UNTESTED by a PTAB trial. The sole IPR filed, IPR2025-01407, resulted in a denial of institution, meaning the PTAB did not find sufficient grounds to proceed with a full review of the patent's claims. Consequently, no claims have been canceled or sustained through a Final Written Decision.

The estoppel landscape, under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2), would likely prevent Cruzr Saddles LLC (and their privies) from asserting invalidity grounds in future proceedings that they raised or reasonably could have raised in their petition in IPR2025-01407. However, this estoppel does not extend to other potential petitioners, leaving them free to challenge the patent on any available prior-art grounds. The specific grounds covered by estoppel for Cruzr Saddles LLC would require reviewing their petition for IPR2025-01407. There are no clear pattern signals of aggressive PTAB appeals by the patent owner or involvement of a defensive aggregator based on the single denied IPR.

Recommended next steps

For a defendant facing assertion of US11964175, the current status means all claims are presumed valid as no PTAB trial has concluded with an invalidation. Since institution was denied in IPR2025-01407, it's crucial to review the PTAB's decision denying institution. This decision, typically available on the USPTO PTAB Decisions portal, would detail the specific arguments made by Cruzr Saddles LLC and the PTAB's reasoning for why those arguments did not meet the institution threshold. Understanding this reasoning is vital for assessing whether different prior art or different arguments could lead to a successful IPR petition if a new challenge is considered.

Inventors

• II Walter Ernest Power
• Gregory Alan Godfrey
• Carl Eugene Kossuth, III

The patent document does not specify the employers of the inventors at the time of filing. Tethrd LLC is listed as the applicant and original assignee.

Original assignee

The entity named on the issued patent is Tethrd LLC. Tethrd LLC manufactures and sells hunting and outdoor equipment, specifically tree saddles and related accessories, which embody the claims of US11964175B2 (a bridge rope assembly for a harness). Tethrd LLC is currently an operating company, with an active legal status for the patent, expiring in 2040-04-03.

Assignment timeline

• 2025-08-11 (executed, effective date) / recorded 2025-09-17 — Reel 072280/0145
  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: Godfrey, Gregory Alan; Power, Walter Ernest, II; Kossuth, Carl Eugene, III (the inventors)
  • Assignee: Tethrd LLC, TENNESSEE
  • Correspondent: Not specified in the Google Patents legal event record.
  • Context: Formal transfer of inventor rights to the original assignee, Tethrd LLC, after the patent's issuance.

No other post-issuance assignments for US11964175 are explicitly listed in the Google Patents legal events.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11964175
    2022 : Application filed by Tethrd LLC
    2024 : Patent granted to Tethrd LLC
         : US district court litigation filed
    2025 : Inventors assigned to Tethrd LLC
         : IPR case filed (not instituted)

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Not present. The only recorded assignment from inventors is to Tethrd LLC, an operating company.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Not present. Tethrd LLC is not listed as a known Non-Practicing Entity (NPE) or patent asserter by public databases.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Unclear. The correspondent information for the recorded assignment is not available in the provided Google Patents data.
4. Cascading transfers — Not present. Only one assignment event from the inventors to the original assignee is listed.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Not present. The patent was granted to Tethrd LLC on April 23, 2024. US district court litigation cases were filed in 2024. The assignment from the inventors to Tethrd LLC, while recorded on September 17, 2025 (effective date August 11, 2025), occurred after the initial litigation filings, and Tethrd LLC was already the original assignee at the time of grant and initial litigation.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. Tethrd LLC is an active company.
7. Privateering — Not present. No evidence suggests a privateering arrangement.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The patent is currently assigned to Tethrd LLC, an operating company, and is not shown to be held by a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Operating-company assertion.
The patent was granted to Tethrd LLC, an active operating company that markets products embodying the claimed invention. The sole recorded assignment is a transfer of inventor interest to Tethrd LLC (Reel 072280/0145). Although litigation is noted in the patent history, it commenced in 2024, prior to the inventor assignment's recording date in 2025, indicating Tethrd LLC was already the asserting entity.

Verification link: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 11964175, I will examine each patent cited by the examiner. For each cited patent, I will provide its full citation, publication/filing date, a brief description, and an assessment of which claims of US11964175 it potentially anticipates under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

The claims of US11964175 generally describe a bridge rope assembly for a harness, featuring a main body with an eye loop formed by a splice, where a first portion of the rope is fully buried within a second portion, resulting in the first and second ends being adjacent. A key aspect is the use of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) for the rope material. The assembly also includes a friction hitch with a closed loop, also preferably made of UHMWPE, where its ends are buried a significant percentage of the loop's circumference.

Here is an analysis of the cited prior art:

1. US8061479B2

• Full Citation: US8061479B2, "Fall protection system", issued to Harris Jr Rano J on November 22, 2011.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed April 6, 2004; Published November 22, 2011.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a fall protection system, specifically a self-contained unit with a retractor, a lanyard, and a connection mechanism, designed to provide fall protection to a worker. It focuses on systems that reduce impact forces during a fall.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is broadly related to fall protection systems but does not appear to anticipate the specific structural features of the bridge rope assembly of US11964175, such as the detailed splicing method (first portion extending through the second portion, first end adjacent to the second end, specific distances), the use of UHMWPE for both the main body and friction hitch, or the particular construction of the friction hitch's closed loop with buried ends. Therefore, it does not appear to directly anticipate any claims under § 102.

2. US20060207828A1

• Full Citation: US20060207828A1, "Safety harness", published to D'Acquisto Andrae T on September 21, 2006.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed February 18, 2005; Published September 21, 2006.
• Brief Description: This application describes a safety harness designed for hunting, featuring an adjustable tree belt, a chest harness, and a tether connecting them. It aims to provide comfort and flexibility for a hunter in a tree stand.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this discloses a safety harness for hunting, it does not detail the specific construction of a bridge rope assembly with an eye splice having fully buried rope ends, or the specialized friction hitch, as claimed in US11964175. It focuses on the overall harness structure and adjustability, not the intricate rope splicing techniques or material composition (UHMWPE).

3. US20080000719A1

• Full Citation: US20080000719A1, "Suspension relief device and method of use thereof", published to Jones Dennis K on January 3, 2008.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed June 29, 2006; Published January 3, 2008.
• Brief Description: This patent application discloses a device and method to relieve suspension trauma after a fall from height, typically used with a safety harness. It describes a strap or loop that a suspended person can stand in to alleviate pressure.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference focuses on a suspension relief device, not the primary bridge rope assembly and friction hitch structure for connecting to a harness as described in US11964175. The splicing techniques and material specifications of US11964175 are not present.

4. US9320925B2

• Full Citation: US9320925B2, "Fall arrest system and lanyard", issued to Tech Safety Lines, Inc. on April 26, 2016.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed September 11, 2006; Published April 26, 2016.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a fall arrest system including a lanyard with multiple tear-away members for energy absorption during a fall. It aims to reduce the forces experienced by the user.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on the energy absorption mechanism of a lanyard in a fall arrest system. It does not disclose the specific construction of a bridge rope with a fully buried first portion, adjacent ends, or the UHMWPE material as claimed in US11964175.

5. US8292028B2

• Full Citation: US8292028B2, "Fall arrest lanyard", issued to Tech Safety Lines, Inc. on October 23, 2012.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed September 11, 2006; Published October 23, 2012.
• Brief Description: This patent details a fall arrest lanyard with a tear-away member, similar to US9320925B2, designed to absorb kinetic energy during a fall and limit the impact force on a worker.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US9320925B2, this patent is directed to the energy-absorbing qualities of a lanyard and lacks the specific details of the bridge rope assembly, splicing method, end adjacency, or UHMWPE material of US11964175.

6. US20080179136A1

• Full Citation: US20080179136A1, "Multiple tear-away member energy absorber for personal fall arrestor", published to Sturges Manufacturing Co., Inc. on July 31, 2008.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed January 25, 2007; Published July 31, 2008.
• Brief Description: This application describes an energy absorber for a fall arrest system, featuring multiple layers of webbing stitched together that selectively tear to dissipate energy during a fall, reducing impact forces.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This prior art focuses on an energy absorber for a fall arrest system, specifically the design of tear-away webbing. It does not describe a bridge rope assembly with the claimed splicing features, end configuration, friction hitch, or UHMWPE material of US11964175.

7. US20100162882A1

• Full Citation: US20100162882A1, "Arborist's climbing rope", published to Shakespeare William C on July 1, 2010.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed August 14, 2007; Published July 1, 2010.
• Brief Description: This application describes an arborist's climbing rope with a splice that creates a loop, facilitating attachment to climbing gear. It mentions the use of a continuous cover for the splice to protect it.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent mentions a climbing rope with a splice and a loop, which is a general concept for some claims of US11964175. However, it does not specify the critical features of US11964175, such as the first portion extending through the second portion such that the first end is adjacent to the second end, nor does it explicitly claim the use of UHMWPE or the specific structure of the friction hitch with buried ends (Claim 1 and subsequent claims). The general concept of a spliced rope with a loop is known, but the specific configuration claimed in US11964175 appears to be novel over this reference.

8. US20090255756A1

• Full Citation: US20090255756A1, "Harness with integrated fall arrest system", published to Green Sherry Jean on October 15, 2009.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed December 13, 2007; Published October 15, 2009.
• Brief Description: This application describes a harness, potentially for tree stand hunting, with an integrated fall arrest system, including a tether and a connecting assembly.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent describes a harness system but does not provide the detailed structural elements of the bridge rope assembly or the friction hitch as claimed in US11964175, particularly the specific splicing techniques, end arrangements, and material (UHMWPE).

9. US8356691B2

• Full Citation: US8356691B2, "Energy absorber for personal fall arrestor", issued to Sturges Manufacturing Co., Inc. on January 22, 2013.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed August 18, 2009; Published January 22, 2013.
• Brief Description: This patent details an energy absorber for a personal fall arrestor that includes a webbing formed into a coil and encased in a cover. The coil unwinds and tears when subjected to a fall force, dissipating energy.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference focuses on an energy absorption device, similar to previous Sturges patents. It does not disclose the unique features of the bridge rope assembly, splicing, end configuration, or friction hitch of US11964175.

10. US8584799B1

• Full Citation: US8584799B1, "Fall-arresting safety harness assembly", issued to Dennington Mark on November 19, 2013.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed June 28, 2011; Published November 19, 2013.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a safety harness assembly, particularly for tree stand hunting, including a harness, a tree strap, and a tether. It focuses on how these components connect for fall arrest.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent broadly discusses a safety harness assembly for tree stand hunting, which is the general field of US11964175. However, it does not detail the specific construction of the bridge rope assembly, including the buried rope ends in the main body or the specialized friction hitch with buried ends, nor does it specify the UHMWPE material.

11. US9003579B1

• Full Citation: US9003579B1, "Multiple-loop support strap and method for hanging a hammock", issued to Eagles Nest Outfitters, Inc. on April 14, 2015.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed April 25, 2012; Published April 14, 2015.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a support strap for hanging a hammock, featuring multiple loops along its length for adjustable attachment. The loops are formed by stitching the strap onto itself.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is for a hammock strap and its loops are formed by stitching, not the specific splicing and buried end configurations of a single rope as claimed in US11964175. The material (UHMWPE) and the specific design of the friction hitch are also absent.

12. US9808659B2

• Full Citation: US9808659B2, "Roping harness", issued to Zedel on November 7, 2017.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed May 13, 2015; Published November 7, 2017.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a roping harness, particularly for climbing or rescue, with various attachment points and adjustable straps.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent describes a general roping harness. It does not provide the specific details of the bridge rope assembly's main body splicing, buried ends, friction hitch construction, or UHMWPE material as claimed in US11964175.

13. US10258814B2

• Full Citation: US10258814B2, "Breakaway keeper", issued to D B Industries, LLC on April 16, 2019.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed June 10, 2015; Published April 16, 2019.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a breakaway keeper for a lanyard, designed to hold excess lanyard webbing and release it under certain conditions, such as during a fall.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent relates to a component for managing lanyard length, not the fundamental structure or material composition of a bridge rope assembly with a spliced eye loop and friction hitch as in US11964175.

14. US10918194B2

• Full Citation: US10918194B2, "Single piece hammock strap with integral woven eyelets", issued to Kammok Holdings, Llc on February 16, 2021.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed November 9, 2015; Published February 16, 2021.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a single-piece hammock strap with integrally woven eyelets, which eliminates the need for stitching or splicing to create attachment points.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent describes a hammock strap with woven eyelets. While it deals with loops in a strap, the method of forming the loops (integrally woven) is different from the splicing with fully buried rope ends in US11964175. The application of the strap (hammock vs. bridge rope for a harness) and the specific material (UHMWPE) are also distinguishing features.

15. WO2018111624A1

• Full Citation: WO2018111624A1, "Harness with integrated energy absorber", published to Msa Technology, Llc on June 21, 2018.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed December 12, 2016; Published June 21, 2018.
• Brief Description: This international application describes a safety harness with an integrated energy absorber, where the energy absorber is structurally part of the harness itself.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference describes an integrated energy absorber within a harness. It does not disclose the specific construction of the bridge rope assembly, including the unique splicing and buried end features of the main body and friction hitch, or the use of UHMWPE, as defined in the claims of US11964175.

16. US20190134438A1

• Full Citation: US20190134438A1, "Redundant Adjustable Lanyard", published to Ropes Courses, Inc. on May 9, 2019.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed November 7, 2017; Published May 9, 2019.
• Brief Description: This application describes an adjustable lanyard for a safety system, particularly for ropes courses, which provides redundant connection points and adjustability.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent application relates to a redundant and adjustable lanyard system. It does not disclose the specific structural and material features of the bridge rope assembly of US11964175, such as the full burial of a first rope portion within a second, the adjacency of the ends, or the UHMWPE material.

17. US20190210696A1

• Full Citation: US20190210696A1, "Adjustable sports rope", published to Barnes Weston Joseph on July 11, 2019.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed January 11, 2018; Published July 11, 2019.
• Brief Description: This application describes an adjustable sports rope that can be quickly adjusted in length, for example, for activities like jumping rope or climbing. It may include a mechanism for quick length changes.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on an adjustable sports rope and its length adjustment mechanism. It does not describe the specific splicing structure of the bridge rope's main body or friction hitch, the adjacency of the rope ends within the splice, or the use of UHMWPE, as claimed in US11964175.

18. US20210076666A1

• Full Citation: US20210076666A1, "Tree mountable gear holding assembly", published to Tethrd, LLC on March 18, 2021.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed September 17, 2019; Published March 18, 2021.
• Brief Description: This application describes an assembly for holding gear on a tree, typically for hunting. It often involves a strap or rope wrapped around a tree with attachment points for accessories.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent application is by the same assignee (Tethrd, LLC) and relates to tree-mountable gear, which is a related field. However, it specifically describes a gear holding assembly, not the detailed structure of the "bridge rope assembly" itself, with its unique splicing, buried ends, friction hitch, and UHMWPE material. Therefore, it does not anticipate the specific claims of US11964175.

19. US20230054395A1

• Full Citation: US20230054395A1, "Lanyard assembly", published to Treemagineers Ltd on February 23, 2023.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed January 31, 2020; Published February 23, 2023.
• Brief Description: This application describes a lanyard assembly, particularly for arborists, that may incorporate a friction device for adjustment and connection.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference describes a lanyard assembly that may include a friction device. While it is in a related technical area and mentions friction hitches, it does not specifically disclose the precise construction of the main body's splice with fully buried ends and their adjacency, the length specifications, or the UHMWPE material as claimed in US11964175. It also lacks the specific details of the friction hitch's closed loop with ends buried a percentage of its circumference.

20. US11597476B2

• Full Citation: US11597476B2, "Controlled failure point for a rope or mooring loop and method of use thereof", issued to Fields Thomas W. on March 7, 2023.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed August 25, 2020; Published March 7, 2023.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a rope or mooring loop designed with a controlled failure point, where a sacrificial element fails before the main rope, to prevent damage to the primary rope.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on a specific feature (controlled failure point) in a rope or loop, which is distinct from the structural and material innovations related to splicing and buried ends in US11964175. It does not anticipate the claims of US11964175.

21. US11511141B2

• Full Citation: US11511141B2, "Shock absorption device including dual fall prevention band", issued to Korea Top Safety Co., Ltd on November 29, 2022.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed September 17, 2020; Published November 29, 2022.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a shock absorption device with dual fall prevention bands, aiming to provide enhanced safety in fall protection systems.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on shock absorption and dual bands in a fall prevention system. It does not disclose the specific bridge rope assembly, its splicing, buried end features, friction hitch construction, or UHMWPE material, as claimed in US11964175.

22. US20220241624A1

• Full Citation: US20220241624A1, "Harness with braided lead", published to Jarusiewic Michael on August 4, 2022.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed February 2, 2021; Published August 4, 2022.
• Brief Description: This application describes a harness, potentially for pets or for safety, that includes a braided lead.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent application generally describes a "harness with braided lead" but lacks the specific structural details of the bridge rope assembly, its unique splicing with fully buried ends and their adjacency, the friction hitch construction, or the UHMWPE material, as claimed in US11964175.

23. US20220249886A1

• Full Citation: US20220249886A1, "Tree saddle", published to Latitude Outdoors, LLC on August 11, 2022.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed February 9, 2021; Published August 11, 2022.
• Brief Description: This application describes a tree saddle, often used for hunting, which provides a flexible and lightweight seating system for a user in a tree.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is for a "tree saddle," which is a type of harness, but it focuses on the saddle structure itself. It does not disclose the specific bridge rope assembly, its detailed splicing, buried end arrangement, or friction hitch features with UHMWPE material as claimed in US11964175.

24. US20230173312A1

• Full Citation: US20230173312A1, "Harness assembly with independently adjustable panels", published to Gregoire, Jr. Benny Aaron on June 8, 2023.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed November 27, 2021; Published June 8, 2023.
• Brief Description: This application describes a harness assembly, such as for tree stand hunting, that features independently adjustable panels for customized fit and comfort.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent application focuses on the adjustability of panels within a harness assembly. It does not provide any details regarding the specific construction of the bridge rope assembly, its unique splicing method, the precise placement and securing of rope ends, the friction hitch design, or the use of UHMWPE as claimed in US11964175.

Summary of Anticipation:
Based on the descriptions, none of the cited prior art documents appear to fully anticipate all elements of Claim 1 of US11964175. While some references discuss harnesses, ropes, splices, or friction hitches in a general sense, they do not disclose the specific combination of features central to US11964175, particularly:

• The main body rope having a first portion extending through a second portion such that the first end is positioned within the second portion adjacent to the second end (distance between ends less than 2.0 inches).
• The use of UHMWPE for the main body and/or the friction hitch (Claims 10, 11).
• The specific structure of the closed loop friction hitch, where its ends are each buried a distance of at least 40% (and less than 50%) of the total circumference (as further detailed in the specification, which supports claims such as 6, 7, 8, 9, 13).

Therefore, based on the provided abstracts, the novelty of US11964175 appears to reside in the specific and detailed structural configuration of the splices (main body and friction hitch) leading to fully buried and closely positioned rope ends, combined with the application of UHMWPE material to achieve a high-strength, friction-resistant, and drop-test-passing assembly.

To assess the obviousness of US Patent 11964175 under 35 U.S.C. § 103, we must identify combinations of prior art references that would render the claims obvious and explain the motivation a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) would have to combine them. The primary objective of the claimed invention is to provide a bridge rope assembly for a harness, particularly one that safely utilizes ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) despite its low coefficient of friction.

Claim 1 Breakdown:
Claim 1 describes a bridge rope assembly for coupling a tree rope to a harness. Key features include:

1. A main body rope with a splice forming an eye loop, which engages a first bridge loop of a harness.
2. Crucially, a "first portion" of the main body rope, including its first end, extends through a "second portion" (including the second end) such that the first end is positioned within the second portion adjacent to the second end. This describes a very long internal bury of one end of the rope.
3. A friction hitch, comprising a closed loop, positioned on the main body between the second end and the eye loop, configured to engage a second bridge loop of the harness.

Dependent claims further specify dimensions, the use of a stop knot, a securing member at the rope ends, and the material (UHMWPE) for both the main body and the friction hitch.

Identified Prior Art Combinations and Obviousness Analysis:

A POSITA in the field of safety equipment, particularly for tree-stand hunting or climbing, would possess knowledge of harness systems, rope materials, and splicing techniques.

Combination 1: Bridge Rope Assembly with UHMWPE and Long Buried Splices

• Reference 1: US11351405B2 (Tethrd LLC) – "Safety harness bridge rope engagement system". This patent, having a priority date of June 19, 2019, predates US11964175's earliest priority date of January 7, 2020. It discloses a bridge rope engagement system for a harness, encompassing the general concept of connecting a harness to a tree rope via a bridge rope, likely featuring an eye loop for engagement and an adjustable connection point. Thus, it provides the foundational "bridge rope assembly configured to couple together a tree rope to a first bridge loop and a second bridge loop on a harness" and the main body having an eye loop configured to engage the first bridge loop.

• General Knowledge/Motivation for Material Choice: The detailed description of US11964175 explicitly states that UHMWPE (e.g., Amsteel) is a material "characteristically includ[ing] extremely long chains of polyethylene having 100,000 to 250,000 monomer units per molecule" and that it is "extremely strong" and "available from numerous suppliers." The patent itself recognizes its superior strength-to-weight ratio. A POSITA would be continuously motivated to improve the performance of safety equipment by seeking lighter and stronger materials. Therefore, the selection of UHMWPE for a bridge rope assembly would be an obvious choice to enhance strength and reduce weight.

• Reference 2: US4036101A (The Burnett Company, Ltd.), "Double hollow braided rope assembly and method" (priority date 1975-12-01).

• Reference 3: US4099750A (Mcgrew James D), "Method of forming eye splice in double braided line" (priority date 1977-09-02).

• Reference 4: US5699657A (Paulson; William Thomas), "Braided line splices and methods of splicing to form same" (priority date 1996-05-23).
  These references collectively teach various methods of forming eye splices and other buried splices in braided ropes, demonstrating the principle of burying one rope portion within another to create secure connections. A fundamental principle in rope splicing, recognized by a POSITA, is that a longer bury length increases frictional engagement and thus the security and strength of the splice, particularly for ropes with low coefficients of friction.

• Motivation to Combine References 1, General Knowledge (UHMWPE), and References 2-4 for Claim 1:
  A POSITA, starting with a bridge rope assembly as generally taught by US11351405B2, and motivated to improve its strength and reduce weight, would naturally consider using UHMWPE for the rope material (as it's a known high-performance material). Upon selecting UHMWPE, the POSITA would immediately confront the material's known low coefficient of friction, which is explicitly mentioned in US11964175 as a challenge that can prevent ropes from retaining a closed loop formation under stress. To overcome this, the POSITA would refer to well-known splicing techniques (e.g., US4036101A, US4099750A, US5699657A) and apply the established principle that a longer bury enhances friction and security. It would be an obvious design choice to maximize this effect for a safety-critical application by extending the first portion of the main body rope through the second portion, such that the first end is positioned within the second portion, ideally adjacent to the second end. This creates a substantial double layer of rope, significantly increasing friction and preventing slippage, directly addressing the low-friction characteristic of UHMWPE. The patent itself highlights that "the extension of the first portion 32 through the second portion 34 further resists the movement of the first portion 32 outwardly away from the second portion 34 while increasing a thickness of main body 12 such that it may be gripped easier."

Combination 2: Friction Hitch on the Main Body

• Reference 1 (from Combination 1): US11351405B2 provides the context of a bridge rope assembly for a harness.
• General Knowledge/The Disclosure of US11964175: The disclosure for US11964175 states, "The friction hitch 42 is formed in a conventional manner and is configured to engage a second bridge loop 44 of the harness 26." It further specifies that "The closed loop 46 is formed into the friction hitch using what is commonly referred to as a Prusik knot." Prusik knots and other friction hitches formed from a closed loop of rope are conventional and widely known in climbing, arborist, and rigging applications for creating adjustable connections on a main rope.
• Motivation to Combine: A POSITA designing a bridge rope assembly (e.g., as in US11351405B2) would readily recognize the desirability of an adjustable connection to a second bridge loop of the harness. The use of a conventional friction hitch, such as a Prusik knot formed from a closed loop of rope, for this purpose is a standard and obvious solution to provide adjustability. Positioning it on the main body between the existing eye loop and the second end of the main body is a logical arrangement for such a system.

Obviousness of Dependent Claims:

• Claims 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14 (Dimensions): The specific lengths (e.g., rope length, eye loop to second end distance, single rope length for closed loop, closed loop circumference, distance between first and second ends being less than 2.0 inches) are design choices that a POSITA would determine through routine experimentation and optimization based on factors such as user height, harness design, ergonomic considerations, and safety standards, all of which are within the purview of routine engineering for such equipment. The "less than 2.0 inches" adjacent spacing for the main body's ends is a direct consequence of maximizing the bury length to address UHMWPE's low friction, as motivated above.
• Claim 4 (Stop Knot) and Claim 5 (Securing Member): The patent itself notes that a stop knot "may comprise, for example, a double fisherman's knot" and that a "securing member may comprise a heat shrink wrap sleeve." Both double fisherman's knots and heat shrink wrap sleeves are conventional elements in rope work. Stop knots prevent slippage or mark an end point, while securing members protect rope ends from fraying and further secure buried tags.
  • Motivation to Combine: A POSITA, having constructed a long-buried splice in a UHMWPE rope for a safety application, would be motivated to further enhance the security and durability of the rope assembly. Employing conventional stop knots and securing members (like heat shrink wrap) at the ends of the buried sections would be an obvious choice to prevent fraying, further secure the splice, and ensure long-term reliability in a critical safety device.
• Claim 6 (Closed loop from a single rope): As discussed, a friction hitch like a Prusik knot is conventionally formed from a single rope tied into a continuous closed loop. This is an inherent characteristic of such knots and would be obvious to a POSITA.
• Claims 10, 11 (UHMWPE for main body and friction hitch): As established above, the motivation to use UHMWPE for its strength and light weight is clear. Once UHMWPE is chosen for the main body, extending its use to the friction hitch rope would be an obvious choice for consistency and to realize similar benefits in that component. The challenges of its low friction and the need for long splices would apply equally to the friction hitch's closed loop, as noted in the patent's description of the closed loop's splice.

Conclusion:
The claims of US Patent 11964175 would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention. The combination of a known bridge rope assembly (e.g., US11351405B2) with the known high-strength, low-friction material UHMWPE (general knowledge, acknowledged by the patent) and conventional long-bury splicing techniques (e.g., US4036101A, US4099750A, US5699657A) would be motivated by a desire for a lighter, stronger, and safer harness system. Similarly, the incorporation of a conventional friction hitch (as described in the patent's own disclosure as "conventional") for adjustability, along with other conventional safety features like stop knots and securing members (also described as conventional in the patent), would be obvious improvements or design choices within the ordinary skill in the art. The specific dimensions would be routine engineering for such a product.

Patent Term Adjustments (PTA)

Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) can extend the term of a U.S. patent to compensate for delays caused by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) during the prosecution of a patent application. This includes delays such as not issuing a first Official Action or notice of allowance within fourteen months of filing, not issuing an action within four months of an applicant's response, or not issuing the patent within four months of payment of the issue fee, as well as delays causing the patent to issue more than three years after the application's actual filing date. Any such extensions can be reduced by delays caused by the applicant. The official PTA calculation is provided on the patent at the time of issuance and can also be found in the Issue Notification Letter.

To determine the specific PTA for US11964175, one would need to access the official USPTO patent records (such as through Patent Center). The provided Google Patents data for US11964175 does not explicitly state the number of days of PTA granted.

Patent Term Extensions (PTE)

Patent Term Extension (PTE) under 35 U.S.C. § 156 allows for the extension of the term of patents on certain products, such as human drug products, medical devices, animal drug products, veterinary biological products, and food or color additive products. This extension compensates for time lost while awaiting premarket government approval from a regulatory agency like the FDA. PTE is limited to a maximum of five years, and the total patent life with a PTE cannot exceed 14 years from the date of FDA approval.

Given that US11964175 relates to a "bridge rope assembly" for a harness (likely for hunting or outdoor recreation), it does not fall within the categories of products eligible for PTE (e.g., human drugs, medical devices, etc.). Therefore, it is highly unlikely that US11964175 has received any Patent Term Extension.

Continuation Applications

A continuation application is a second application for the same invention claimed in a prior non-provisional application and filed before the patenting or abandonment of or termination of proceedings on the first application. It allows for further examination of claims not allowed in the parent application.

The patent information for US11964175 (Application Number US17/867,553) lists the following as "Priority Applications" and "Applications Claiming Priority":

• U.S. application Ser. No. 16/736,345, filed on Jan. 7, 2020 (now abandoned).
• U.S. application Ser. No. 17/231,717, filed on Apr. 15, 2021. This application resulted in US11504556B2, titled "Bridge rope assembly." US11964175 claims the benefit of this application.
• US17/867,553 (the application for US11964175B2 itself) claims priority to US17/867,553 (a self-reference, which is unusual for priority claims and likely indicates its own filing date as a priority event, or a typographical convention in the Google Patents data).
• US18/602,822, filed on March 12, 2024, titled "Bridge Rope Assembly" (US20240216723A1). This is listed as a "Priority to US18/602,822" for US11964175, and also as a "Related Child Application" that is a Continuation-In-Part.
• US18/671,581, filed on May 22, 2024, titled "Bridge Rope Assembly" (US20240307716A1). This is also listed as a "Related Child Application."

The patent text states, "This application is a continuation and I claim the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/736,345, now abandoned, filed on Jan. 7, 2020 and U.S. application Ser. No. 17/231,717 filed on Apr. 15, 2021." Therefore, US11964175 is a continuation of these earlier applications.

Divisional Applications

A divisional application is a later application for an independent and distinct invention carved out of a prior, copending parent application. The Google Patents data does not explicitly list any divisional applications for US11964175.

Related Family Members

The patent family for US11964175 includes:

• US11504556B2 (Active), titled "Bridge rope assembly," filed April 15, 2021, and issued November 22, 2022. US11964175 claims benefit from this application.
• US20220347501A1 (Publication of US17/867,553), published November 3, 2022.
• US20240216723A1 (Pending), titled "Bridge Rope Assembly," filed March 12, 2024 (corresponding to application US18/602,822). This is identified as a Continuation-In-Part of US11964175.
• US20240307716A1 (Pending), titled "Bridge Rope Assembly," filed May 22, 2024 (corresponding to application US18/671,581).

These documents represent various stages and relationships within the same patent family, stemming from the initial priority application filed on January 7, 2020.

Projected Expiration Date

The legal status for US11964175 indicates it is "Active" and "expires 2040-04-03." This date is provided directly by the Google Patents information. This expiration date already accounts for any standard 20-year term from the earliest priority date and any applicable Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) that may have been granted. As established, no Patent Term Extension (PTE) is expected for this type of patent.